Space enclosure



Sept. 23, 1947. c. D. wlLLsoN 2,4275937 SPACE ENcLo'sUREv Filed July 18, 1941 4`Sheyets-Sheet 1 SePf- 23, 1947. c. D. wlLLsoN SPACE ENCLOSURE Filed July 18, 1941 4 sheets-sheet` 2 C. D. WILLSON SPACE ENGLosURE Filed July 18 1 941 Sept. 23, 1947.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y :il:

Patented Sept. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 23 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in space enclosure.

To date, attempts to adapt shelter design to a more eiiicient industrial technique of completion have not been notably successful. Linked for centuries with considerations of local investment and prestige, building has placed so much emphasis on super size, super strength, awesome externals and permanence that these have come to be felt essential, even when far beyond the purse of the average consumer.

But with machine energy everywhere accentuating reliance upon mobility, with military art dependent on mobility as never before and with every major nation concentrating upon the production of bombing planes for maximum property damage, inherited preconceptions of shelter essentials are due for a sudden change.

Eecause it is the opposite of a durable, xed and pretentious form of space enclosure, the tent escapes acceptance as building construction. This suggests that search for a less intricately handicraft rigmarole of shelter fabrication might concentrate to advantage on the problem as one of space enclosure,

When a boy blows a soap bubble, he encloses space with a thin film of liquid under tension. When men inflate a balloon they enclose space with a seamed covering that exemplifies the rudiments oi structure. The designer of an oil storage tank carries reliance on structure further by means of a riveted covering stiii in resistance to three-dimensional curvature. From this it would appear that the basic essentials for an enclosure of space are three: a covering, a stiiening, and a joint between.

But human shelter requires more than a mere covering supported against, collapse. In locations of widely varying temperature and humidity, biological considerations require that even the simplest eiiective enclosure of space be a ventilated moisture resistant thermally insulated envelope. The tent does not meet these requirements and as yet no shelter is available midway between its primitive simplicity and the costly complexity of existing types of building construction. With the bomber designed to devastate urban areas and bound to cause temporary diffusion and even mass migration from regions threatened with attack, need for easily erected, disassembled, portable, temporary and emergency forms of shelter of low cost, having characteristics both of the tent and the xed house, is becoming world wide.

To meet this need is one of the primary objects oi this invention.

In viewof the considerations mentioned, to

make an enclosure of ,space suitable as shelter` for minimal human needs calls for concentration on four problems simultaneously:

(l) The thermal resistance of the covering;

(2) The moisture resistance of the covering both from within and without;

(3) The structural resistance of the covering;

(4) The portability of the covering, to the end that large sections may be prenished in factories specially tooled, then stored, transported, erected and dismantled as need requires.

To the extent that an integrated solution of these four primary problems is sought that better can utilize industrial processes and materials, the result has a chance of being simpler, cheaper and more practical than prevailing practice.

With these considerations in mind, it will become clearer as the description proceeds why an enclosure of space for shelter must include very diverse elements and Why it is the mechanical integration of these diverse elements that largely must be depended on to achieve the desired simplicity.

By this invention I have provided an entirely new system of joining and supporting the parts of a space enclosure so as to make practical the shop prenish of the parts, their` compact transport, easy eld erection and quick disassembly for complete salvage and re-erection upon a different site.

Though men have been building with stone for more than sixty centuries, only yesterday relatively did they begin to insulate their houses against extremes of temperature. As yet insulation materials because of low density tend to be capable of bearing only a meager load and under most conditions are much more hydroscopic than is generally admitted. Thus, insulation materials still are used largely to ll in between parts of inherited types of shelter. Eventually and once a truly superior structure is provided for the purpose, it will become practical to provide forms of shelter composed primarily of insulation boards` and other 'industrially formed sheet materials having relatively thin impregnated or bonded exterior surfaces of relatively high density carrying the complete decorative prenish of their faces. llfhe first step in this direction is provision of a means for avoiding much of the traditional dead load n'ovv usually supported by post and lintel and walls of heavy loadbearing uninsulative handicraft materials.

Thus, one object of the invention is a thermally resistant enclosure of space by a single-walled covering combining a prefnished low density slab backing with a prefnished high density weather facing adaptable to temporary and emergency shelter under the widest extremes of temperature and humidity.

Another object of the invention is a shelter, such as an insulated military squad tent, many of the parts of Which may be used interexchangeably in the erection of longer structures such as barracks, in wider structures such as field hospitals, and in higher structures such as storage shelters.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a form of knockdown, compactly portable shelter which, after occasion for its military use in far places has passed, may be stored for disaster relief and shelter for the indigent whenever the emergency arises.

Another object of the invention is the simplication of factors the complexity of which now discourages the achievement of a truly superior prefabricated house of low cost.

Another object of the invention is the joining of a covering to a framing member in an expansible covered seam resistant from end to end continuously to maximum loading stress.

AAnother object of the invention is the double covering of .a skeleton frame with vspaced inner and outer independent preinished panels having integrally battened joints.

Another object of the invention is the demountable joining of .a completely preiinished panel to a structural rib sealably .by wedging.

Another object of the invention is the provision upon a composition .board of relative low density vand inadequate deformability of a tongue or membrane joinable to a frame in a sealed seam wtha minimum of labor on the erection site.

Another object of .the invention is means for making possible the compact storage and transport in the flat of completed panels joinable at the point of use in straight-line `or curvilinear shelter forms.

Another object of the invention is the control of condensed moisture within, and its removal from, an insulated unit wall panel of relative thinness intended for use in locations of wide temperature variations. f

The above and other objects of the `invention will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In its single-walled form, my improved enclosure of vSpace particularly distinguishes from previous construction in that its insulative covering is protected from .moisture not only on opposite faces but therebetween `and has a deformed or deformable membrane or tongue wedgable into a structural rib by a strip that makes erection and demounting swift and yeiective; that avoids the intermittently secured joint, such as is achieved with great numbers of nails, screws, bolts and clips, by keeping the union between covering vand rib resistant continuously in each fracl tion of its length to maximum loading stress; that seals `the joint and covers the seam while permitting the joint to expand and contract in ana-mount relatively :greater than the normal expansion and con-traction `of the covering, thus avoiding harm -to the structure usual from this source.

These and other novei features and objects of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of an enclosure of space is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- .Fig l is a plan of the supporting substructure of an enclosure of space for shelter-in this instance, an insulated substitute for the canvas military squad tent-and .shows the -sectional character of the sills and floor sections.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view partly in section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1

fig. -3 is a plan of the frame of the superstructure of the space enclosure constructed according to the invention as it is supported by two of the pairs of flooring sections shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end View in elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side view in elevation of Fig. 3.

In succeeding drawings, except where noted, the covering is shown fastened to the frame, and details are enlarged.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the ribs and coupling seen in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line lil-Ii) of Fig. 9 with the exterior strap and screw of Fig. 7 added.

Fig. 11 is section of a corner of the space enclosure looking toward the floor on line l l-l I of Eig. 4.

Fig. 12 is a plan of the panel backing adjoining the exterior facing taken on line I 2-l2 of Fig.. 11 land illustrates the moisture condensing cells in the panel.

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line l3-I3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the wall taken on line M-M of Fig. 4.

Fig. l5 is a partial section taken on line lli-I5 Aof Fig.

Fig. 16 is a section taken on line Iii-I6 of Fig. '4.

Fig. 17 is an end view in elevation of a frame for a structure higher and wider than the squad tent but using -interexchangeably parts of the smaller structure.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged section illustrating the manner of fastening -a window frame, sash and ny screen to the frame on line l8-I8/of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a section on line IQ--IS of Fig. 17.

Fig. 2U is a section through a typical frame for a hinged door supported according to the invention.

Fig. 21 is a section of a double wall joined according to the invention.

Fig. 22 is a View in velevation showing means according to the invention of joining an alternative covering material into the preferred framework.

Fig. 23 is a section on line 'i3-23 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a View in elevation showing means according to the invention of joining another covering material into the preferred framework.

Fig. 25 is a section taken on line 25-25 of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is asection of an alternate form of wall supported according to the invention.

Fig. 27 is a section of an alternate form of wall supported according to the invention.

Fig. 28 is a section of an alternate form of wall supported according to the invention.

Fig. 29 is a section of four panels nested compactly for transport, according to the invention.

Fig. 30 is a section illustrating the juncture of three wall panels and a hatten supported according to the invention.

Fig. 31 is an end view in elevation of an alternate form of the squad tent supported according to the invention.

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of the squad tent of Fig. 31.

Fig. 33 is a modified form of the joint illustrated in Fig. 6 and secured according to the invention.

Fig.. 34 is a modified form of the joint illustrated in Fig. 6 and is shown prior to driving in the battening wedging strip.

The foundation and support of the preferred construction for the purposes stated is shown in plan in Fig. l in which a pier at each respective corner is indicated at l. Supported by pairs of piers, cross sill members 2 support the framework 3 of sectional portions of the flooring 4. The two floor panels necessary to complete one half of the substructure ofthe squad tent are here shown in their assembled form.

In Fig. 2, the same elements are shown from the side partly in section: the pier I in the form of a tube embedded in` concrete 5; cross sill 2a. fastened at right angles to cross sill 2b by bolts 6 and resting on a metal angle support 'I having nipple 8 on its lower face attachable to pier I by cotterpin or bolt 9, and sectional floor frame 3 resting on cleat IIJ and supporting floor covering 4 and the optional insulation therefor Il.

In Fig. 3 the supported oor is shown supporting a framework I2 for the superstructure. The lower ends of five ribs I2@ rest on one side of the substructure and are joined at their upper ends, in a manner hereinafter described, to five similar ribs |217, the lower ends of which rest on the opposite side of the substructure. As each rib is approximately quadrantal in. form, each pair of ribs I2a and I2b when joined complete an approximate semi-circle. The five pairs of ribs so joined are spaced at the top by Cross tie member I3' in a manner hereinafter described. Parallel vertical end ribs I2C rest at the lower ends on the substructure and at the upper ends are joined to the roof ribs I2a and IZb as hereinafter described.

Fig. 4 illustrates an end view in elevation of the squad tent and Figure 5 illustrates a side View. Since the invention concerns the fitting of panels of a covering between and into the parts of a skeleton framework, the illustration of the framework and of the panels fitted therein may Ibe considered as diagrammatically identical. rThus the drawings in Figures 3, 4 and 5 may be considered to include the framework and the panels fastenable thereinto, although openings in and between the panels and closures therefor are in,- dicated by broken lines.

The manner of joining the panels into the framework I2 is shown in Figure 6. The framework is formed of tubular ribs comprising a resilient web I3 between two spaced lips I4, I4. This web may be of high-carbon heat-treated steel. This web in the straight end ribs I2C is curved twoedimensionally; in the quadrantal roof ribs I2a and IZb this web is curved three-dimensionally; thus the spaced lips in the roof ribs offer a. greater resistance to separation. Tongues I5, I5 on a pair of contiguouspanels I6, I6' are slipped between the spaced lips Ill, I4 and strip I1, having an hourglass waist and wedging lower end, is driven from the side into the interstice between the tongues. If the strip I'I is of a resilient material such as rubber as indicated, the wedging end of the strip is compressed as it is forced between the lips of the aperture, then expands into a locking position within the aperture where it is held against displacement by the battening portion of the strip outside the aperture. If the strip I'I is of metal, the lips of the aperture are forced open as it is driven between them and the spring web snaps the lips back after the wedging lower end is within the aperture and holds them in locking position about the tongues and the hourglass waist of the strip.

The recessed portions I3, I8 of the edges of panels I6, I6 lit about the outer contours of web I3 in a partially keyed position which holds those portions of the tongues outside the rib in xed position and permits the panels to be locked in a definite fixed position in the wall so formed. The tongues I5, I5 are here shown in Fig, 6 as part of the exterior panel facing, They may also underlie or reinforce that facing or be attached in ways hereinafter described In Fig. 6 panels Its I6' are shown as composed of unitary sheets such as of insulation material of relatively low density composed of organic or inorganic fibers. or of plywood, of berenveloped gypsum, of resin or asphalt impregnated board or other preformed sheet materials with an exterior i9 of relatively higher density which may include the prefinished decorated exposed face inside the space enclosed. To the outer surface of this board is bonded by layer of adhesive 2B a sheet material of greater density, easier deformability or lo-nger life such as metal, fiber, impregnated textile fabric, resinous plastic or the like which may be part of the tongue l5 or, as mentioned', may overlay, underlay or abut the tongue as may be found preferable. This outer face of the unitwall panel so formed may also be completely finished to include'the decorative final surfacing prior to erection. To the side of the web'IS opposite the aperture may be attached as by spot' welding which the aperture makes possible, a number of metallic ribbons or clinchable fasteners 2l having pronged extremities passing through and clinching to hold batten strip 22 which covers the rib and overlaps edges of panels I6, I5. The eX tremities of tongues I5, I5 may be deformed or thickened as by folding, extrusion, molding, crimping, knurling, upsetting or the like as shown at 23 whereby lateral stress on the panels tending to pull tongues I5, I5' from between strip I'I and lips I5, Ill is resisted by the shoulder so formed.

As may be seen in Figures 3 and 5, the two panels between a pair of semi-circular ribs total in length considerably less than the ribs. In the 16 x 16 squad tent, for example, each panel is approximately 12 feet long whereas the semi-4 circular ribs approximate 26 feet. Thus by joining two panels at the ridge, openings itl are left near the floor for ventilation; or if the two panels are joined at their bottom ends to the substructure this leaves an opening 25 at the ridge for ventilation. Fig. 7 illustrates the method of joining two abutting panels at the ridge, Tubular rib IZa is a butt-joined to rib I2b by an inn terior coupling 26 and an exterior deformed strap 2'! fastened by screws 28, 2S. The two abutting panels held in the ribs by wedging strip I'I have stiffening double folds 29 in their upper parallel edges and over these abutting folds is positioned the inverted U-shaped ridge cap 3i). Through the ring in deformed strap 2l the ribs may be slid laterally on cross-time member I3' while the panels are being engaged in the ribs, then are locked by screw SI in the position natural to receiving stress in the structure.

Where it is desired to attach t0 the substructure the lower ends of a pair of roof panels between paired semi-circular ribs, the structure results illustrated in Fig. 8 where the ridge open ing 25 is filled with a Ventilating closure 32, its outer edges overlapping the double folds 25 in the upper parallel edges of the panels. The balance of the structure is as described for Fig. 7.

Figure 9 shows the abutting ribs and internal coupling turned at an angle of ninety degrees. While this coupling is shown with but two screws,

it may be lengthened to accommodate as many screws as may be needed for the load, as may be the coacting deformed strap shown in place in Fig. lll. Coupling 2E is a section of open seam tubing nesting closely inside the ribbing and positioned so that the tongues on the panels may be locked into the open seam of the ribbing as shown in Fig. 6 Without interference from the coupling,

Each of the four corners of the squad tent has a similar structure illustrated in Fig. l1. This is a. joint between a roof panel, an end panel and the substructure. On door il, two roof ribs la stand on a weight-diffusing fastener comprising a nipple in the rib joined swivelly to a. floor plate 34, so as to adjust position of open seam in nipple relative to floor plate to permit the fastener to be used either for a side rib or at a corner, After the panel has been positioned n the rib and locked therewithin by strip vIl, screw '35 fastens rib to nipple 33 and screw S joins plate to substructure. Water table strip 3l' will be hereinafter described. The manner of locking panels l5 into rib lia has been described. Between the end panel i5' and rib l 2a is a cornice locking strip t8 with seamfold 39 joined to a fold l0 on end panel l. This cornice strip makes it possible for the end panel to adapt itself to the curvature of the roof rib and to the modulus arrangement of the roof panels.

The low density insulative backing 4l of panels l5, It' has surcient rigidity to make its bending to the curvature of ,the ribs diicult in the viield where the backing is more than one-half inch thick. Thus, parallel grooves, such as may be achieved by scoring similar to but at right angles to that shown at 42 is effected in the outer facing of the panel backing prior to bonding to the exterior facing 43. This scoring 64 makes the panel easier to warp into locking position. Where temperature dilerentials are considerable between the interior and exterior of the space enclosed, moisture is absorbed into the low density backing in spite of its moisture-resistant coating or facing inside the space enclosed. Due

to the impervious exterior facing, this absorbed moisture cannot evaporate as commonly Occurs through walls of brick and lumber, but is trapped where it tends to condense in the horizontal scoring M and in cold weather may build up gradually there as frost or ice against the inside of the exterior facing. Unless the exposed wall surfaces of the interior of the space enclosed are coated with one-fourth inch of asphalt or sheet metal and every joint made equally impervious, some moisture will seep into the wall and accumulating there destroy not only the eiectiveness of the insulation but decay and disrupt the panel structure. This condensation moisture must be got rid of. wardly inclined grooves l2 are also elected in the outer face of the panel backing 4I prior to bonding to it the exterior facing 43.

Figure 12 shows the face of panel backing 4| so scored, with intersecting grooves 42 and 44 deep enough to lie within the varying dewlines to which the panels may be subjected under varying low temperatures. Figure 13 shows these interconnected grooves of equal size which may be adapted to the need both of panel ilexibility in two-dimensional curvature and the creation within the panel for condensed moisture to build up as frost over a period of continued cold without disruptive effect upon the unitary wall structure of the panel. Interconnecting the grooves To accomplish this, downpermits stoppage of some of the grooves by closures in the panels. Even under moderate differentials of temperature between the inside and outside of the space enclosed, the outer exterior facing being or relatively higher density than the backing and being in direct contact with grooves l2 and 44, makes of them condensing cells for keeping the low-density backing sucked dry of moisture, on the same principle as that which causes a piece of warm toast when laid on a cold plate to give up moisture which accumulates on the plate. Moisture drawn into the lowdensity board 4l from inside the space enclosed in the same fashion will tend to accumulate on the higher-density non-absorbent downwardly inclined facing 43 and run down on that facing by means of the grooves 42 and out of the panel. By adjusting the amount of the exterior facing exposed to the grooves and the relative spacing of the grooves, much of the moisture sucked into the insulation may thus be drawn out of the panel to preserve its insulation Value and the life of the panel itself.

Fig. 14 illustrates the manner of joining the frame to the oor of the squad tent, of joining the vertical end ribbing t0 the roof ribbing, of joining the covering to the floor and of providing a means of egress whereby moisture may flow from within the wall and roof panels down through the floor onto the ground without harm to other parts of the structure. End rib I2C is fastened to the floor in the manner described and to roof rib 12a by means of a fastener having an interior nipple 45 joined to plate l5 curved to contours of rib l2c and joined thereto by screw 41, nipple and rib being joined by screw 48. Bottom edge ofouter facing 43 has seamfold 49 joined to a co-acting fold 50 on water table strip 3'! joined to beveled upper outer edge of floor i by screw 5l. Through portion of oor projecting outwardly from sill 2, a duct 52 conducts moisture that has condensed within and owed from the panel above into rabbet 53 out of the structure. A demountable closure such as a cove 54 or screen may shut these ducts where this may prove desirable.

Fig. l5 .shows the general character of the joint between a roof rib and the iioor and in particular the manner of supplying a closure for the opening between the panel edge and the oor indicated .at k2li in Fig. 5. Seamfold 49 on the panel edge parallel with floor is joined to coacting fold 55 on the outer facing 43 of closure 5B which at its lower edge carries seam fold 5l coacting with fold 56 on water table strip 31. Sides of closure are locked demountably into rib l2b by strip I1 in the manner described.

Figure 16 illustrates one manner of achieving opening closures in the end walls of the squad tent. In the iield, glass is easily shattered by concussions that may do little harm to other parts of the structure. Moreover existing types of opening closures are bulky and increase the hazards of transport. The method of providing an opening closure here shown begins with cutting from panel I6 a portion the size of the desired aperture which is then given a protective binding '58, one face carrying iiyscreen 59, the other face having an open seam fold with outwardly bent lip til to receive ilexible strip 6l held by protective binding 62 on closure 53. Held by wedging pressure, the flexible strip seals the aperture against the weather. Where the aperture must remain closed, the closure 63 may inv vI2g shown in Fig. 2G.

9 clude a transparent material set in as indicated at 64 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 17 illustrates the manner of achieving one of major objects of the invention: the use of the parts of the squad tent as here described interexchangeably in the erection of a higher wider longer structure such as a field hospital having a dormer, a skirting, hinged windows, an interior partition with opening closures, a ceiling and a roof truss as parts of the space enclosure joined thereinto according to the invention. In the erection of a larger more complex structure, great advantage must accrue from ability to use therein the stock parts of a squad tent, which practice is not possible in the military shelter structures now available. Into the larger structure, the ribbing and roof panels of the squad tent i'it because designed especially for this purpose. Rib extensions I2d couple to the lower ends and rib extensions IZe coupie to the upper ends of the stock ribs Ia and i212. The manner of supporting the lower extensions i201 upon the oor 4 will be hereinafter described. From an upper rib extension le, a kingpost 5E is hung and joined at the lower end of diagonal braces 66, e6', the upper ends of which are joined to cross tie members I3. ther cross tie members I3' further down the arc of the roof ribs I2a and I2?) and joined thereto as described, support opposite ends of ceiling ribs I2f formed exactly like the other ribbing, as are the vertical partition ribs With elements I2a and |219 composing the upper chord and element IZf the lower chord and the diagonal bracing between, a truss is formed into which the sections of a covering, such as roof and ceiling panels may be locked with wedging strip Il as described.

Into the ribbing in the same manner may be locked such other elements as the roof dormer 61 and skirting panels It". Still another pair of cross tie members I3 may be added to stiifen the structure laterally where set up for semipermanence. Roof ventilator 32 is similar except in size to that shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 18 shows manner of fastening the frame 63 of a hinged openingV closure 69 such as a window into the ribbing by means of the locking strip I on the exterior and batteri fastener 2| on the interior of the wall. r'Ehe interior exposed part of frame 33 takes the place of batten 22 (see Fig. 6) and the frame is so designed that an identical frame may be locked into position on opposite side of post i213. Flyscreen I5 is held in frame t8 as shown.

Figure 19 illustrates the manner of hanging rib-extension IZd onto the substructure by means of angle support II welded to the rib. This permits the skirting panel to be joined to the lower edge of the stock roof panel of the squad tent in the same manner as water table strip described, and to hang down below and thus to hide the substructure as shown in Fig. 17.

Figure 20 shows the manner of joining the frame l2 of a hinged closure 73, such as a door, to a partition rib I2g by means of locking strip Il and batten fastener 2l; the closure 'I3 swinging on offset hinge lli.

In the provision of shelter for a very hot climate such as Panama, or a cold climate such as Greenland where a unitary `wall might be inadequate, the double wall illustrated in Fig. 2l maybe employed. Here the rib I2h. carries a pair of undercut lips on opposit Sides of the rib and is formed of two arc-shaped strips joined by such a connector as the shouldered rivet 15. Into the apertures between the pairs of undercut lips, projecting tongues I5 are slipped and locked by strips I1 in the manner described. Here the inner pair of panels vare independent of the outer pair and, being nowhere in contact, provide airspace 'I6 therebetween whereby moisture condensed in the wall may flow down through duct 52 and out of the superstructure as described.

The enclosure of space for shelter being the primary object of this invention and there being a wide variety of materials suited to this purpose, the invention comprises means for adapting most of such materials to use in the structure described. Some of these materials do not require a special weather-facing such as might provide the projecting wedgable tongue on the panels described. On sites near salt water it may be desired to avoid the -use of materials, elsewhere suited to such panel coverings and tongues, on account of corrosion. Fig. 22 illustrates analternate method of attaching the tongues to the panels to be locked into the supporting ribs as described. To the edges of panels It, I5' composed of a material such as a stock panel-board of compressed fiber, or of plywood, fiber encased gypsum board, asbestos-cement board o-r the like, portions of a tough deformed or deformable membrane 'II are attached as by bonding or by means of a metallic fastener such as the clinched staple 'I8 or by both whereupon the tongues may be locked into rib I2 by locking strip I1 as shown in vsection in Fig. 23. Ma-

chinery exists that can stitch a 20-gauge metal lip or one of fiber or reinforced plastics on such a board with wireV effectively at low cost. There-V after a weather-resistant facing such as textile, fiber or impregnated roofing felt may be bonded over the panel and lip so joined. (This alternative not shown.)

Figure 24 illustrates another manner of providing a wedgable tongue upon a panel for locking i-nto a rib according to the invention. If panels I6, I5' are of plastic or mastic moldable material, the deformed or deformable membrane I9 may be set in as an insert in the edge of the panels as they are formed. Where this is not practical, into the edge of the panels a thin sawkerf is cut either parallel to the panel surfaces or obliquely thereto as shown in Fig. 25. Thereupon memlbrane'l with perforations Si) is bonded into-the kerf as with an adhesive indicated at 8I. In place of the perforations other deformations such as teeth (not shown) may be provided in the face of membrane 'IQ or a metallic fastener such as a rivet or staple used to fasten the membrane firmly into place, after which the tongue projecting edge maybe attached lto a framing member demountably by Wedging as described.

In Figure 26, the two framing members I2 and I2 through their apertures are spot-welded longitudinally back to back to produce a unitary rib of considerable strength. With such a rib a double wall similar to that shown in Fig. 21 may be formed or a thick single wall supported on opposite faces by w'edging strips I'I. Into a pair of undercut parallel lips on opposite sides of the rib, tongues 'I9 in IIf and tongues I5 in I6 are fastened according to the invention.

In Figure 2"!the flat-backed framing member I2 is joined to a framing member 82 by a fastener such as screw 36 and the locking strip I'I of metal has a wedge-shaped lower end. Tongues I5 have a hem, if fabric, and a closed seamfold, if metal, thisthickening B3 of the extremities of -vantages.

accres?" I5 resisting withdrawal. A seam of this descrip*- tion has been tested under tensile strains between opposite ends of tongues I5 of up to 150 pounds per lineal inch of seam without failure. In Figure 28 the deformable membrane I5e between panels I 6 and I6' is sealed unbrokenly to both panels land wedging strip is driven between folds of the membrane down between the lips of framing member I2 so as to tighten the arced edges I8 of the panels firmly thereabouts. In Fig. 29 two pairs of panels so joined are shown nested for shipment to demonstrate the portable compactness of the structure described.

In Figure 30, a framing member I 2x at the juncture of from one to four panels is shown. Panels I 5, I6', I6", for example, are positioned at an angle one to another predetermined by the relationship of the pairs of parallel undercut lips one to another upon the rib |231. Panel IB carries membrane 'I9 fastened into its edge, the outer edge of the membrane carrying the wedging strip I'I locking the panel I6 to rib l2r by wedging. A batten 22 is joined to a similar wedging strip at its back and when locked into rib |23: covers the rib and the seams between the rib andthe panels I6 and I6. This construction is especially adapted to the construction of partitions according to the invention, where angling Walls abut or intersect.

To achieve such an enclosure of space as the squad tent according to the invention, it is not necessary that the covering be curvilinear in section. The curvilinear structure has obvious ad- The lineal footage of joints and the number of parts are reduced and a relatively thin wall when bent to two dimensional curvature against a natural resistance to deformation be comes so stiff to three-dimensional stress as to require a minimum of frame support. However, in Figure 31 an alternate form of squad tent is illustrated having a straight-line gambrel roof, the central panel 84 at the end of the tent containing two window openings 85 and door opening 86, with ventilator B1 above the door. In Fig. 32, the abutting ends of ribs I2m, I2n, I21 and I2s are beveled to suit their xed position in the erected structure and are joined one to another by the hinged strap fasteners 88 having removable pins 89. Upstanding roof panel endi'olds 9) are joined and protected at the ridge by cap SI and lower edge of roof panels have a seam fold 92 coacting with fold 93 o'n the upper horizontal edges of the slanting side panels. In other important respects the structure of the alternate squad tent follows that of the preferred design.

Figure 33 is a modified form of the joint illustrated in Fig. 6, the tongues I5 having specially formed extremities 94 with reinforcing 95 and the metal wedging strip 96 having a long thin waist. In Fig. 34 two panels I 6, I6 of thin material meet and are joined into the rib at an angle before the metal wedging strip 91 is driven down into sealing position.

While the primary object of this invention is the joining of a covering of semi-rigid panels into an enclosure of space for shelter, it may be noted that in'Fig. 17, for example, the ceiling ribs I2f may support a covering of a flexible sheet material such as textile fabric, launderable in the case of its being the ceiling of a eld hospital. By such simple means a plenum chamber for the control of'heat and ventilation in a eld hospital or army barracks is provided.

' The. manner of erection of the type of structures herein described is as follows: The tubular piers are set upright in the earth or in concrete so their tops are level. The nippled angle sillrests are set on the piers and through them the cross-sills are joined together. The floor sections drop between the cross-sills. Pairs of quadrantal ribs are joined with an internal coupling and external strap, then strung in upright adjustably spaced parallel relation upon the crosstie member. Flat panels are warped to the curved ribs and the tongued projections at the longitudinal edges of the panels are inserted into the aperture in the ribs which are then moved laterally both on the crosstie and at the floor to take up slack. The locking strips are then driven between the spaced projections or membranes or tongues into locking position, the ribs are fastened to the crosstie and to the substructure to take the load on the panels. If heavy snowloads must be provided for or if it is desired to pile sandbags defensively part way up the sides, more crossties may be used to handle the compression on the panels. After the roof ribs and panels are in place, the end ribs are set up, the end panels locked therebetween, the water table strip is inserted into the bottom fold on each panel and fastened to the substructure to make all secure, rigid and tight. Demounting is done in exactly the reverse fashion with percent salvage of the parts.

It is thus seen that the invention described achieves an integrated, thus simplified, solution of the four problems mentioned-as primary in seeking a low-cost enclosure of space adequate for human shelter: the thermal resistance of the covering, the moisture resistance of the covering from within and without, the structural resistance of the covering and the portability of the covering. The invention achieves this solution by means that put less reliance on handicraft practices upon the erection site and more reliance on proven industrial processes and materials. Machinery exists for forming the tubular framing, the connectors, the wedging strip, for forming the insulation panels, attaching the gripable tongues, for bonding, dipping, spraying or otherwise providing their decorative preiinish for interior and exterior exposure. Thus the invention makes possible an easily portable, demountable thermally insulated enclosure of space by means better adapted to the mobility of our industrial ways of work and growing leisure. Y Study of the previous art reveals apparent similarities that become less valid when the totality and diversity of the factors involved, the objectives desired and the results achieved by this invention are considered-an invention that makes more simply possible an enclosure of space for the purposes described by means primarily of semi-rigid panels of low-density transportable preiinished compactly in the nat for erection by wedging into a completed straight-line or curvilinear structure with a minimum of hand labor upon the erection site.

`It will be understood that any of the variants and modifications in the parts essential to enclosing space in the manner described may be used separately or in any desired combination.

The drawings being illustrative only, are more are less diagrammatic in character and it is observed that various changes in the form of the ribbing, for example, or in the frame connectors, or in the covering and nish of the panels, or in other parts of the means for enclosing space here illustrated, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of fabrication, transport, erection and disassembly, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United `Stat-es is:

1. In the enclosure of space, a partially supporting frame and a partially supporting covering therefor, the frame comprising ribs each with a longitudinal aperture between lips joined by a curvilinear web, some of the ribs bent to a common curvature between a crosstie, the covering comprising a backing of rigid insulation joined into a unitary wall with an outer flexible facing resistant to moisture penetration and evaporation; means for warping some of the said backing against resistance otherwise to curvature into locking engagement with the curved ribs, the said means comprising in part relatively deep horizontal indentations, such as scorings, on the face of the said rigid insulation adjacent the said outer facing, and means for carrying by gravity from the said indentations moisture tending to be condensed and otherwise trapped therewithin.

2. In the enclosure of space, an exterior covering of panels, each comprising a slab of relative low thermal conductivity, a series of interconnected parallel grooves in one face of the slab, a moisture-impervious facing of relative higher conductivity in contact with the wallie-faced surface of the slab, some of the edges of the said panels projecting beyond parts of the slab edges, the projecting edges engageable in mutually supporting joints, and means for carrying from the panels condensed moisture tending to collect in the said grooves upon the inside of the said exterior facing.

3. In a sectional shelter, a demountable frame comprising ribs of butted tubing with open seams, similar tubing of another diameter joining abutting ribs, means at one end of each rib for diffusing the load upon, and fastening the rib to a substructure; a covering for the said frame cornprising semi-rigid panels of relative low density carrying tongued edges, the parallel tongued edges of contiguous panels spaced partly within one of said open seams in the tubing, a closure for frictionally wedging between the said spaced tongued edges so said closure lies part ly inside and partly outside said tubing, said closure supported by concavities in opposite sides thereof, that portion of the closure outside the tubing covering the seam between said contiguous panels and said rib; and a batten strip demountably fastened on the opposite side of said rib, covering the rib and overlapping the edges of said contiguous panels.

4. An insulated shelter, such as a squad tent for the military, comprising a pair of parallel ribs curving up from one side of a supported substructure, such as a floor, and joined at the upper ends to a similar pair of ribs curving down to the other side of the substructure and a crosstie between the two pairs of ribs at the top of the curvilinear frame thus formed; a pair of fiat semirigid panels of relative low density longitudinally warped and attached to the said frame, the total length of the said two panels less than the frame support therefor; means for engageably sliding the two panels up or down in the said frame and means, when the panels are in contact with the substructure for joining them thereto, and means when the panels abut overhead for joining them one to the other and closures for lling the spaces between the lower panel ends and substructure ld when panels abut overhead, and a closure for filling in the space between the two panels overhead when the panels abut the substructure; a wedging strip for sealing the `panels into the frame; and sectional closures for the ends of the shelter thus formed.

5. The structure in claim 4 with interexchangeable .means for increasing the dimensions of the said shelter, the length by the addition of similar ribs and panels; the width by the addition of rib extensions fitted between the top ends of the said pairs of curved ribs, a panel to bridge the gap so formed and two end panels one positioned centrally in opposite ends of the shelter; and the height by the addition of rib extensions fitted to the lower ends of the said ribs and skirting panels attachabie at the sides thereof to the said extensions and at the upper edges thereof to the seam ioid normally at the bottom of each panel adjacent the said substructure.

6. For and in space enclosure, two adjacent panels positioned in the same piane edge to edge, each of said panels comprising a wall-thick slab, the adjoining edges of each panel rebated to fit the contours 0f a stifiening rib therebetween, said rib having a lengthwise groove provided with undercut portions, and a flange at the edge of each panel, parts of each flange being entered into an undercut portion of said rib and a wedging strip being laterally driven into said groove until entered parts of said strip are keyably held against a shoulder upon each said flange within said undercut portions, and a batten strip on the opposite side of said rib effectively hiding said rib within the rebated edges of said panels.

1. In a shelter adapted to the compact shipment or the preiinished parts thereof, an insulative covring in unit-wall sections and a frame in seg- Ine-nts; said sections nested in the flat, said segments longitudinally arc-shaped and comprising connectors for quickly but rigidly butt-joining a plurality of said segments into a unitary rib, other connectors fastening opposite end extremities oi a pair of said ribs to opposite parallel sides of a substructure; horizontal frame members holding said pair oi' ribs spaced in fixed parallel upright position, and fastening means between said sections and said segments; said means comprising tongues on some of said sections, said tongues being enteredinto undercut grooves in some of said segments after said sections have been warped into curvilinear contact with said segments, and a weather-sealing and seam-locking strip with entering taper forced into said grooves against a shoulder on each of said tongues, and thereby keying and sealing said sections upon said segments.

S. In space enclosure, a roof covering in sections and a frame therefor in segments some longitudinally arc-shaped and provided with a lengthwise slot; connectors rigidly butt-joining a plurality of slotted segments to form a unitary rib, opposite end extremities ci a pair of said ribs being fastened to opposite parallel sides of a rectangular floorspace after being positioned in parallel upright position thereon; a pair of said sections being warped to the curvilinear ycontours of said ribs and held iixed thereto by tapered means laterally entered by force into said slotted segments and caught therewithin against withdrawal; said pair of sections curving up from opposite sides of said ficorspace and having upper parallel ends spaced to provide a Ventilating aperture therebetween, and an upturned flange at each of said ends receiving a downward turned 1'5` flange at opposite edges of a closure for said aperture.

9.. For and in space enclosure, element-sv compri-sing the frame of an opening closure and a rib having a lengthwise groove provided with an undercut; a lengthwise flange at one edge of said frame, part of said flange being entered through said groove into said undercut, and a length of wedgi-ng strip being laterally forced into said groove until a transverse section of said strip wider than entrance into said groove lies in direct holding Contact with that part of said flange entered into said undercut; and a lengthwise portion of said frame on the side of said rib opposite said groove being joined to, and effectively hiding said rib therebehind,

l0. For and in space enclosure, a tubuiar rib having alengthwise slot and a frame comprising a length of stili sheet material processed to receive operative parts of an opening closure between opposite sides of said frame; a iiange at one edge oi said frame, `part of said flange being entered through said slot into said rib, and longitudinally extending tapered means being laterally entered by force through said slot into said rib until a transverse section of said means wider than said slot directly engages said flange within said rib; and a lengthwise portion of Said frame on the sideI of said ribopposite said slot bei-ng joined toy and effectively hiding saidk rib therebehind.

1l. For and in space enclosure, a covering element comprising a wall-thick panel and a supporting element comprising a rib having a lengthwise groove provided with an undercut, the edge of said panel being rebated to t a contour of said rib; a llange at the rebated edge of said panel, part of said flange being entered through said groove into said undercut, and a length of wedging strip being laterally forced into said groove until a transversesection of said strip wider than entrance into said groove is in direct holding contact with a shoulder on said ange within said undercut; and a demountable batteri strip on the side of the rib opposite said grooveand effectively hiding said rib therebehind.

12. A shelter structure, a cross section thereof between parallel sills being shaped Ilike a gambrel roof, and covering and stiffenin-g' elements for said section; said covering elements comprising in part prenished unit-wall panels of stili insulative board having a weather facing of higher thermal conductivity than said board and having downwardly vented condensing cells between said board and said weather facing; and some of said stilening elements having lengthwise undercut grooves; ilanges on said covering elements for engaging said grooves and lengths of a uniting strip member forced laterally into saidgrooves when said flanges lie therewithin and' holding said covering and said stiifening elements rigidly integral.

13. In a shelter structure, covering and stiffening elements enclosing a roofed portion, said covering elements comprising unit-wall panels of semi-rigid board having a denser Weather-facing joined thereto and downwardly vented condensing cells therewithin; and some of said stiffenin'g elements being of tubular metalv with hingeli'ke fasteners comprising pin-receiveing coactive parts xedly attached to the contiguous extermities of said tubular elements, and pins engaging said parts and permitting easy disengagement for shipment of said panels in the flat to the erection site.

14, A new system of building construction utilizing elements comprising segments of. a stffening frame and sections of an insulative covering; some of said sections being' of board-like and slab-thick material and nestable for shipment in the dat and provided with means of being warped in erection to a desired curvature and having marginal rebates, and some of said segments having lonigtudinally curved contours; and erection of said elements being effected by (o) joining said segmentsv together to provide an upright frame and (b) warping some of said slab-thick sections to bring said rebates into snug lateral engagement with said contours whereby some of saidsegments lie in greater part between opposite sides of said covering and (c) fastening and simultaneously battening the seams between thev engaged elements by wedging force.

11'5. A newv system of industrial prefabrication of a shelter structure; said system comprising prenish of parts of the structure in one place-and compact transport to; and easy demountable joining of, said parts inanother place; said parts comprising the longitudinally stiff and transversely resilient segments of a tubular frame, some of the segmentsl having undercut lips on opposite sides of lengthwise grooves, and an insul'ative covering in hat slab-thick sectionsl some having flanges and rebates not normally tting the longitudinally curved contours of some of said segments, and' lengths of a 4longitudinally resilient uniting strip member having a rigid cross section wider than normal entrance into said grooves; and said parts being joinedA by (a) erecting said segments into an integral' frame and (b) warping some of said sections to bring said re.- bates into lateral confromity with said contours and said anges into engagement with said lips and (c) laterally forcing said cross section of said strip member through said entrance and into un.- dercut parts ofsaid grooves.

16. In building construction, elements comprising. a length of solid strip member and segments of a stilening frame and sections of an insulative covering; some. of said segments having convex exterior contours between the undercut lips of lengthwise grooves, and, some of said sections having hooklike anges and marginal rebates; and means connecting said segments endwise and s crosswise to provide said frame, said means permitting lateral movement of the upright segments upon thecrosswise segments; prior to being xed in said frame; said lateral movement permitting said convex contours to be brought into snug engagement with said rebates prior to said flanges being fixed in said grooves. by the lateral transmission of a wedging force by said strip member.

17. A quickly erected shelter of prenished parts comprising corner piers supporting nipple'd angle sill rests and cross sills, and floor sections supported by the cross sill-s, and quadrantal tubular ribs each comprising segments joined by an internal coupling to maintain a groove continuously undercut from opposite ends of the rib, a crosstie member, one pair of said ribs being strung in upright adjustably spaced relation upon said crosstie member, a covering of flatA panels warped to the ribs, said ribs being shifted laterally both on the crosstie and on said floor section to align marginal rebates in said panels with said ribs and tong-ucd projections at the longitudinal edges of adjacent panels within said grooves, and lengths of a transversely solid locking strip forced between pairs of said projections to hold said 17 panels fixed to said ribs, and said ribs then being iixed to said floor sections and to said crosstie.

18. In building construction, a stiffening frame of tubular segments, some having convex contours conformable to marginal rebates in sections of an insulative covering; said frame comprising means butt-joining some of said segments to form a rib having a continuous undercut groove from end to end thereof, and means connecting upright and horizontal segments in such manner as to ease lateral movement of said upright segments on said horizontal segments prior to being fastened in fixed position in said frame, whereby said convex contours may be brought into snug engagement with said rebates prior to flanges on said sections being Xed in said grooves by wedging force.

19. In building construction, several elements mutually interlockable by wedging force and including thermally insulative covering means and stiiening means and uniting means; said covering means comprising a slab-like section of homogeneous material of such stiffness as to be normally resistant to warping to a curvature; said section being provided with means easing such warping and comprising grooves in one face thereof and spaced crosswise the line of desired curvature, and a combined moisture condenser and moisture barrier joined directly to the grooved face, and downward means of egress from said section for moisture drawn therefrom by said condenser.

20. In building construction, a stiff section of homogeneous moisture absorbent insulative material and a sub-support therefor; one face of said section being deformed by a waffle-like grid of intersecting grooves and a combined moisture condenser and moisture barrier being joined directly to said face to form a panel; said panel being provided with means for being held in an upright or inclined position and sealed into a structure in a manner preventing evaporation from the cold side of the panel of moisture drawn into said absorbent material by extreme temperature differentials co-eXistent upon opposite sides'of the panel, and draining means carrying from said panel moisture sucked by said cold side from said absorbent material and running downwardly on said moisture barrier and out of said panel; said draining means comprising a duct through parts of said sub-support for said panel.

2l. A shelter structure, a cross-section thereof between parallel sills being in part curvilinear, and covering and stiffening elements for said cross section; said covering elements comprising in part slab-thick panels of insulative board having a weather facing of higher thermal conductivity than said board and downwardly vented condensing cells provided between said board and said weather facing; and some of said stiffening elements having slots provided with undercuts, flanges on said covering elements for engaging said slots and lengths of a solid uniting strip member, a taper thereof being forced laterally into said slots when said flanges lie therewithin and the contours of the engaged parts thereby being temporarily changed to permit sections of said strip member wider than said slots to be caught keyably within the undercuts, thereby holding said covering and stiffening elements securely united.

22. In the enclosure of space, a weather-resistant roof covering of largely preiinished unit- Wall panels of stiff insulative board having a weather facing of higher thermal conductivity than said board and a series of downwardly inclined condensing cells between said board and said weather facing; and stiffening elements for said covering, some of said elements having spaced lips providing lengthwise undercut grooves, flanges on said covering for engaging said lips and when engaged lying in part within said grooves, and lengths of a uniting strip member having a solid and rigid cross section wider than normal entrance into said grooves and provided with a groove-widening taper, and said lips having suficient resilience, after said cross section has been forced laterally through said entrance, to snap back stifily to hold said covering, uniting and stiffening elements securely united.

23. In space enclosure, a stiff unitwall insulative covering of sections some provided with downwardly Vented condensing cells, and a stiifening frame of segments some held hidden in marginal rebates in said sections and behind demountable battens over the seams therebetween; some of said segments having spaced lips between lengthwise undercut slots, and said sections having U-shaped flanges for engaging said lips and lying in part within said slots when engaged, and lengths of a longitudinally resilient uniting strip member having a solid cross section wider than the normal width of lateral entrance into said slots and provided with a slotwidening taper, and said lengths laterally entered into` said slots, and said segments having sufficient transverse resiliency to then cause said lips to snap lback against the concave waist of said lengths to hold said covering and stiffening elements effectively united.

CORWIN D. WILLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 613,599 Pease Nov. 1, 1898 624,857 Pease May 9, 1899 1,863,746 Fillod June 21, 1932 491,288 De Lastelle Feb. 7, 1883 2,103,407 Dean Dec. 28, 1937 1,982,655 Funk Dec. 4, 1934 2,192,933 Saborsky Mar. 12, 1940 758,642 Gotsche May 3, 1904 1,447,191 Vetter Mar. 6, 1923 1,998,791 Schanz Apr. 23, 1935 1,333,906 DeVillers Mar. 16, 1920 2,264,961 Ward Dec. 2, 1941 1,347,881 Vetter July 27, 1920 1,298,836 Vetter Apr. 1, 1919 2,113,128 Cunnington Apr. 5, 1938 1,240,110 Williams Sept. 11, 1917 1,351,435 Nissen Aug. 31, 1920 2,263,510 Lindsay Nov. 18, 1941 2,111,326 Norris Mar, 15, 1938 2,069,413 Leadbetter Feb. 2, 1937 2,073,277 Hohl Mar. 9, 1937 1,114,530 Rotherham Oct. 20, 1914 1,508,338 King Sept. 9, 1924 1,949,543 Loucks Mar. 6, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 53,899 Norway May 7, 1934 351,369 Great Britain June 25, 1931 37,200 France July 15, 1930 720,902 France Dec. 12, 1931 7,280 Great Britain May 19, 1887 5,231 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1887 

